Georgia to Sign another Deal with France on Purchase of Anti-Air Systems

Georgia and France will sign another deal today about the purchase of anti-air systems, Georgian Defence Minister Levan Izoria stated on Thursday.

The minister announced his plans to visit France today with the goal and stated that the purchase will take place to boost the country’s self-defense capabilities.

"We have significant progress and achievements. For the first time, we addressed 20 percent of the defense budget to armament; we are buying modern defense systems.

“We bought anti-tank systems from the United States at the beginning of the year. This evening I will travel to France to sign a new contract with the French side regarding the purchase of the anti-aircraft system. This process continues and this is one of the priority directions," Izoria said.

Izoria did not provide details concerning the anti-air systems Georgia intends to buy.

The Georgian defense ministry has been in air defense cooperation with the French since 2015, signing deals for ground-based surveillance radars and air defense command and control systems.

Georgia paid more than 80 million Euros for the systems.

On November 21, 2017, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced that it made a decision approving a possible foreign military sale to Georgia for Javelin anti-tank Missiles and Command Launch Units for an estimated cost of $75 million.

However, it added that the sale would be possible to conclude only if backed by Congress.

After a month Congress agreed the sale and Georgia received Javelins in January this year.

Izoria says after Javelins, in the near future, Georgia will receive the most modern, man-portable air defense system- FIM-92 Stingers from the United States.